It had been a pleasant jaunt, traveling about with my deserving Aunt Dahlia and my always agreeable cousin Angela. Her betrothed, Tuppy, was at times a tad less agreeable as additions to the travelling party go, but he and Angela worked it all out in time, and I'd had my share of revenges, so I believe the score just about evened out by the end.

However, as enjoyable as the journey had been, it was with quite a bit of relief that Bertram W. returned to the old flat. It wasn't that I had been hankering for the metrop., though I was looking forward to dropping by the Drones in a day or two and regaling the chaps there with all my exploits, no, I admit it was something rather closer to home that had me eager to return to it. I confess, I had been missing my man Jeeves like that chap who's always beefing about losing gazelles. All the time I was away I had been short one gazelle, and was quite happy to have mine back.

I just about skipped down the hall to my flat. I had but taken out my key, when the familiar door swung open as though of its own accord. I gave a bit of a jump - it really had been too long since I had enjoyed Jeeves's uncanny way of knowing just what a chap wants before it so much as drifts into his mind. But I regained my bearings quickly enough and rather barreled inside, letting the door fall shut behind me as I crashed into Jeeves and caught the chap in a tight embrace. I'm not usually such a clingy sort, but it had been too long, if I said so, and I let the man know I was pleased to see him.

"Sir?" Jeeves said, his arms lightly angled around my back - being a touch too proper for a full embrace.

There was however - I emerged just enough to get a good look at the chap - a soft smile playing across his finely chiseled f., directed at none other than yours truly. He made some effort to stifle it and the eyebrow went up a fraction, but there was really no concealing it.

"What ho, Jeeves!" I exclaimed, pulling away at last with a clap on his shoulder for good measure.

"Welcome home, sir," Jeeves said graciously, taking my coat before following me out into the sitting room.

However, I very well knew it was all too good to last. As I went into the sitting room, I gave my lip wistful waggle, admiring the effect in the mirror while I could.

"Sir," Jeeves said before I had a chance to throw myself upon the sofa, no longer able to hold his peace, "there appears to be something on your lip."

"What do you say, Jeeves?" I asked encouragingly, rather trying my luck.

"I fear a caterpillar may be endeavoring to take advantage of your hospitality, sir."

"Jeeves," I protested - that was a bit much, even for him. "Don't you think it gives me something of a distinguished air?"

"No, sir."

I sighed. "Very good, Jeeves," I relented at last with all the dignity of the great Woosters of old. "If you must."

"Thank you, sir."

I caught sight of him smiling in the mirror as he went to fetch my kit when he thought I wasn't looking his way, and I didn't quite have the heart not to answer with a beam of my own.

When he was ready with the shaving things, I sat down in front of the mirror, leaned back and let my eyes flutter shut, comfortably in Jeeves's eminently capable h. One hand kept my chin steady while the other readied with the razor.

I knew my moustaches could not evade the inevitable, but I was going to miss the old thing.

"I'm going to miss the old thing," I said, giving the lip a final twitch. "It was a comfort in many a time of need. Now my lip will be bare as - some especially bare thing, one of those hairless cats perhaps?"

"Hardly a fitting comparison, sir," Jeeves insisted.

"But as you say, it's for the best, eh Jeeves?"

"Yes, sir. If you will permit me."

My eyes flickered open to see the chap, waiting poised to begin.

"Oh! Yes, right-o, Jeeves."

"Very good, sir."

The eyes fell shut once more and Jeeves began the gentle application of the razor, so gentle I barely felt it gliding across the upper lip.

"I cannot understand, sir," Jeeves remarked with what I could have called fond exasperation, "why you feel compelled to grow a moustache whenever I am absent for more than a day."

Jeeves kindly paused the shaving in anticipation of the inevitable reply.

"Well, there's no one else to be trusted with the Wooster lips, what?" I punctuated it with a toothy beam for good measure.

"That is very kind, sir," Jeeves said, but I could tell the chap was unconvinced.

I mulled a little, leaned the head back and considered closing the eyes again, but Jeeves's attentive look in the mirror held my gaze.

"I say it's rather like a sort of consolation, what? If I can't have you there, I very well ought to at least have a moustache."

"I believe I understand, sir. However, I find I must feel some sympathy for your fellow travellers."

I laughed and leaned back again, this time closing the eyes for Jeeves to continue. "You should have heard Aunt Dahlia about the bally thing. You would have thought it was trying to steal Anatole from under her."

"A most sensible woman, sir."

"Et tu, Jeeves?"

"I am afraid so, sir."

"Right ho, then," I said with the resigned gravity of a prisoner being hauled before the bench.

But I could hardly keep myself from smiling - and not that awkward smile that creeps its way across my map on the few occasions I have been hauled up in front of a judge, rather a genuine beam - and I let my hand fall to brush up against Jeeves's arm before he resumed his work.

"May I conclude the liberation of your upper lip, sir?"

"Very good, Jeeves," I said, and fell silent at last.

Again, he cupped my chin in his soft, steady hand, and resumed gently brushing away the moustache - really, I reflected, it didn't stand a chance against the goodly chap, and so I bid it good riddance, glad to be home at last.